Notice DAMIAN LILLARD TO PLAY FOR U.S. OLYMPIC MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by SlyPokerDog, Jun 28, 2021.

  1. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Basically we threw together a bunch of guys who have never played together and gave them 4 days of practice. The outcome was very predictable.
     
  2. Fairly-Hard

    Fairly-Hard Former Member Gone New!

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    Pretty sure I'm gonna get called an "Apologist" for this but this was the first game for a bunch of players that just got out of the playoffs and have had like less than a week to put it together against a team that has been playing together for years and has 6 NBA players on the team. Also the USA looks to add Booker, Middleton, and Holiday before the Olympics.
    One other issue the USA are going to have is the lack of size. Painfully obvious they are going to get punished on the boards. How many 7 footers in the NBA are from Europe?
     
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  3. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    While I am perfectly happy to laugh at Team USA falling on its face (which is why I'm annoyed Dame is playing for them - conflicted feelings!), it's worth remembering that the Dream Team lost its first scrimmage against a team whose star player was Bobby Hurley (still at Duke at the time) and that the general consensus was that Chuck Daley did his best to engineer it. Guarantee being embarrassed is going to make this team pay a lot more attention.
    On the flipside, Nigeria were great! This probably means more to them than any victory in their history and good for them!

    The only game I REALLY want Team USA to win is against Slovenia. Don't let me down guys.
     
  4. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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  5. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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  6. e_blazer

    e_blazer Rip City Fan

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    Yes.
     
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  7. blazerkor

    blazerkor Well-Known Member

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    Not having more size on the team was a choice, while you're right that a ton of the traditional bigs in the league are from outside the US there are a bunch of young US born bigs that haven't played for team USA before that are all bigger than Bam who has to be considered the biggest on the team despite being shorter than KD. We've put non all-stars on the team before and we probably should have this time just to have some size available. Not to mention that some of the guys with size that have played on the team before probably would have participated again.

    All of that said, I'm pretty sure it won't matter in the long run and as these guys play together more and get the guys who are in the finals on the team they'll round into form and likely win gold easily.
     
  8. Fairly-Hard

    Fairly-Hard Former Member Gone New!

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    Probably true. Doesn't detract from the statement. They are gonna get killed on the boards. If they make shots it won't matter.
     
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  9. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    I haven't paid much attention....but wasn't this just an exhibition game; a glorified practice?
     
  10. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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  11. blazerkor

    blazerkor Well-Known Member

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    It was but since pros started playing internationally again in 92 we've only lost one other of these glorified practices. So yeah, it doesn't really mean anything but it's a little alarming.

    At the same time because of the pushed back schedule this season, this team has had less practice time than any other previous "Dream Team" and is missing three of its players because their NBA season still isn't over.
     
  12. James lamphear

    James lamphear Well-Known Member

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    Dame was trying to play within the team concept because there are other really good players on this team. Plus he didn't need to bring up every time due there was also a lot other players that can handle the ball. I still rate his defense average last night. You got to remember fiba courts are smaller then NBA court so there less room to operate that will effect some players that like to go iso. But when he had open shots he put them down majority of the time. His stat line wasn't bad. There other players out there play worst then Dame on defense if you going to call out one player call the rest out too.
     
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  13. blazerkor

    blazerkor Well-Known Member

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    His stat line wasn't bad but he looked lost on defense (it wasn't average IMO) and while I realize that the team is trying to install it's system and get used to it... there were times when Dame passed up open shots or brought the ball up and then got it to a teammate in a way that didn't make sense when I thought he should have controlled the possession as the point guard. That being said, it's probably a result of the team having less than a week together so far and missing three of its 12 players because they're playing in the finals.
     
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  14. Kano John

    Kano John Start 'em young!

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    That's the way USA played but Nigeria thought it was a real game and played like it.
     
  15. James lamphear

    James lamphear Well-Known Member

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    Problem is we so use take difficult shots and that what aspect of him all of the time. But he playing with players that also equal or right below his talent. But yes just 4 days of practice they all trying to get some type chemistry on both ends.
     
  16. Blazerreynolds

    Blazerreynolds Member

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    So
    That
    Agitated
    Nerves

    ??????????

    If so, sorry for....

    Narcissism
    Obnoxiousness
    Terribleness

    ......
     
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  17. jlprk

    jlprk The ESPN mod is insane.

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    Historically, when the U.S. team had a college coach, he took every game seriously. When it had an NBA coach (George Karl), he treated international games as just one of 82 games. Popovich's seen-it-all attitude affects team preparation.
     
  18. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    I think these are his HEAT teammates if I’m not mistaken .
     
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  19. illmatic99

    illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

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    so happy dame is getting this kinda experience next to Pop



    was hesitant of putting more miles on but this will be invaluable for dame.
     
  20. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Nobody understands Pops sense of humor :lol:
     
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